Mayor Joe Benetti also spoke before the BACC WBC Forum – Earlier this week I had the pleasure of giving what was termed as the “State of the City” presentation at the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce’s Wednesday Business Connection meeting. I spoke about the many pieces to the puzzle of building a better community and I took the opportunity to identify and thank some of the people and organizations who are helping to bring the pieces of the puzzle together. Those include, but are not limited to the following: Southwestern Oregon Community College led by Dr. Patty Scott and their work to realize the much-needed Health and Science Technology building. Coos Bay School District and the leadership of past Superintendent Brian Trendell and current Superintendent Charis McGaughy who, with the approval of the Coos Bay voters, have built new schools (Eastside Elementary and Marshfield Middle School), remodeled a third (Madison Elementary) and are making plans for capital improvements to the Millicoma School. Greg Drobot, the developer of the new commercial complex on Coos Bay’s waterfront, Coos Bay Village, and his upcoming commercial development, Teakwood Plaza which will be situated just north of Ace Hardware. Robb Crocker and his partners who have purchased a total of four commercial buildings in downtown Coos Bay (Tioga, Koski, Buggy Bank, and the Fletcher buildings), making improvements and continuing to enhance those buildings. Heidi Sause who has over the last few years purchased four commercial properties in the Front Street area: the building now home to Front Street Provisioners, 999 Front Street (formerly called the Flora building), Coos Bay Iron Works and 161 Date Street. Two of the buildings have been restored, inside and out, and there is work in progress to do the same on the other two. Karl Jernstedt who made the investment to grow his business by purchasing and improving an underdeveloped vacant building (the property was formerly the home to Kings Table). Rick and Danni Stevens who invested in our community when they purchased the property on Bayshore Drive which formerly housed Marshfield Bargain House and later Marshfield Mercantile and have opened two new businesses: Real Deals and Front Street Food Trucks. I should share they also operate a third business, Triple J Auto, which is located across the street from their other two businesses. Brad Woodruff, the owner of Red Moon Development and Construction, who is undertaking a number of housing developments to include new condos at Brookside Estates, high end homes at The Bluffs subdivision, and Timber Cove (a proposed 400 home housing development). Wes and Pamela Plummer, who own and operate Tri-County Plumbing, but also have been responsible for a number of new housing construction projects in the area to include a six-plex multifamily housing project on Norman Street near their shop/showroom. Adam Rutherford, the owner of Tahoe Pacific Capital, who under his leadership a number of new homes have been built in the Coos Bay and North Bend area, including the nine-plex multifamily housing complex on S Wasson Street behind the Empire Fire Station. Our partnership with Coos County, Northwest Housing Alternatives, and Oregon Coast Community Action, who are working together with the City of Coos Bay on a low-income housing project to be built where the former Englewood School once stood. Tara Johnson and the Devereux Center, who along with their grant funders, operate Coal Bank Village (transitional housing). Community Coalition of Empire and their work to improve the historic district of Empire with their community art projects (new mural on the Star of Hope and their utility box art project). The Coos Bay Downtown Association and Pacific Power partnership to improve the look of downtown with their utility box art projects. The Coquille Indian Tribe, City of North Bend, and Coos County who all partner with Coos Bay on tourism development through the City of Coos Bay – North Bend – Charleston Visitor and Convention Bureau. Travel Southern Oregon Coast and the Judith Ann Mogan Foundation who funded the new ADA kayak launch in John Topits Park. The above people and organizations, along with many others, are all working to put the pieces of a better Coos Bay together. I should also share that Mayor Engelke also presented on the exciting developments in North Bend. I can’t say enough how much I appreciate the great relationship I have with Mayor Engelke and the working relationship our management staff, and employees have with their counterparts in North Bend.
